Naya Shakti Party coordinator Baburam Bhattarai said the upcoming budget should prioritise country's economic development. 

Commenting on proposal on principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 207576 presented by Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada in the House meeting on Thursday, leader Bhattarai criticised the budget as the continuity of past instead of prioritising development foundations. 

The former Prime Minister viewed that the budget should incorporate agriculture, tourism, water resources, infrastructure development and education, and prioritise speedy construction of international airport, and run technical education. 

He also stressed the need for bringing free health insurance for farmers, making available of seeds, and managing irrigation. 

Maintaining good relations with both neighbouring India and China is also the need of the hour at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Nepal, he said. 

He also made a pitch for signing the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) with other 50 countries, while referring to the BIPPA signed with some countries during his premiership.